Try Yoga for Weight Loss

 

 

Yoga is revered for its power to relieve stress, increase flexibility, and build muscle tone.  It’s not, however, well known for promoting weight loss.  So you might be surprised to learn that it can actually help you burn calories.

Traditional yoga isn’t an extremely active pursuit.  It works your muscles, but you rarely break a sweat just by holding a pose (unless it’s really hot in the room).  But the muscle-building effects of yoga ensure you burn calories more efficiently.

 

So if you participate in a good workout, you’ll see greater results than you would if we weren’t doing yoga.

 

Yoga can also give you the discipline you need to stick to a diet and exercise program.  It enhances the relationship between the mind and body, giving you the motivation to take better care of yourself.

 

Lack of motivation is a frequent problem among most people who want to lose weight, so this is a very important benefit.

 

New Incarnations of Yoga

 

Those who want to solely use yoga for weight loss might find what they’re looking for in non-traditional yoga classes.  There are a number of yoga styles that can give you the traditional benefits of yoga and a cardiovascular workout at the same time.

 

These include:

 

* Vinyasa yoga – This type of yoga is based on movement from one pose to another while practicing yoga breathing techniques.  Sun Salutations are frequently used, but other poses are usually included as well.  This is sometimes done in a hot room to increase sweating.

 

* Ashtanga yoga – Ashtanga is a complex style of yoga that includes six different series of poses.  Each series is more complex than the previous one, so it is important to start at the beginning and work your way up.

 

* Power yoga – This is an Americanized version of yoga.  It combines faster, more active movements with traditional yoga breathing techniques.

 

These types of yoga are more likely to increase your heart rate and work up a sweat than traditional yoga.

 

Whilst they may not give you as much of a workout as aerobics, they combine weight loss and cardiovascular benefits with the muscle building and flexibility training of yoga.

 

And for those who don’t have the time to participate in two separate workout programs, they can be great options.

 

Other than being forms of exercise, yoga and aerobics seem to have little in common.

 

But traditional yoga can enhance the effects of more intense workouts, and these newly popular styles of yoga can give you the best of both worlds.

 

If other workout routines have left you disappointed, adding or switching to yoga for weight loss might be the answer you’re looking for.